In this season of thankfulness and joy why not make sure that family farmers and ranchers make it on your Christmas list. They don’t want much; just a little appreciation for all they do to put clothes on your back, fuel in your car and food on your plate to nourish your body. It all starts with knowledge because once …
NCGA Partners with NGFA to Tackle Grain Bin Safety and Engulfment Prevention
Statistics show grain bin accidents and fatalities continue to rise sharply in the past several years. With 2010 having the highest percentage yet, we decided it was time to do something about it. NCGA has recently partnered with the National Grain and Feed Association to start educating farmers about the dangers associated with grain bins and ways to prevent becoming …
How Many Farmers Does it Take to Be “Big Ag?”
It is interesting to note the group change.org, on their “Sustainable Food” web site takes issue with the new CommonGround campaign which seeks to give exposure to family farmers and their efforts to educate the public about food and the people who raise/grow it. It is also ironic that if three “foodies” get together to offer their advice on how …
Appreciate & Activate This Thanksgiving…and Thank a Farmer
This Thanksgiving as I sit down with family and friends to share a special meal I will do so with a strange cloud of pride and concern hanging over the festivities; pride because of the amazing productivity, innovation and hard work of America’s family farmers that make the meal - and our very existence - possible. And concern because about …
Education is Evergreen and Critical For Ag
Is it just me or are homosapiens the king of the jungle when it comes to complicating life and twisting simple things? Is there some direct connection between having opposable thumbs and not being able to accept things at face value? Ok, I am admittedly a huge skeptic about many things but one thing I have firm convictions about …
Farmer Best at Telling Their Own Story
Building off a successful campaign conducted across Nebraska a year ago, Nebraska Corn Farmers have created a new series of messages that feature several Nebraska farm families sharing facts about how today’s corn farmers are more sustainable than ever. The Sustaining Innovation campaign echoes a promotional campaign conducted in Washington, D.C. by the Corn Farmers Coalition which is comprised of …
Testing Seeds For Quality
Have you ever wondered what a seed laboratory does? Participants at the Truth About Trade & Technology Global Farmer to Farmer Roundtable found out during a tour stop at the Iowa State University Seed Science Center. One of our hosts was Michael Stahr, Seed Laboratory Manager, seen showing seeds to the group at one of the stops during the tour. …
Response to PETA Article in Sacramento Bee
Today’s guest blogger is Jeff Fowle a fourth generation family farmer and rancher from Etna, California. He also writes a blog called Common Sense Agriculture. I am writing in response to the opinion piece that was published in your Lifestyle section on October 11, 2010. It is sad that you would publish an article by an animal rights activist that …
Why I Grow Corn
This guest blog comes compliments of Darin’s Ramblings and farmer Darin Grimm. Please note this is a rant, I hope it doesn’t detract from the quality I want to bring to this blog, but it’s my thoughts this morning, so I’ll share. I’m tired of seeing the constant bashing that corn gets in social media or even pop culture today. …
E85 Comes Out on Top in High Tech Competition
Automotive designers and race car mechanics and engineers from around the world ended their quest to create a 100 + mile-per-gallon vehicle today with an interesting development; the winner was powered by ethanol, E85 to be exact. While many of the competitors chose to pursue the electric-battery option it was corn squeezings that ruled the day. However, it is worth …